Judging Criteria

THE JUDGING PROCESS

Judges will read and pre-score all entry forms, considering any supporting materials submitted. Judges will be asked to give a score for each question within the entry form. These will be combined to give an overall score for each entry. All judges pre-scores will then be combined and the highest scoring entries will determine the shortlists.

Judges will meet to discuss the highest scoring entries and then agree the winner for each category. The shortlists will be announced on the 19 July 2017. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 13 September 2016.

Judging Criteria

Campaign Awards (Categories 1 – 10)

The judges will be looking for clear objectives, creative and effective implementation and tangible and demonstrable results in the campaign award categories. They will also consider the structure, presentation and clarity of each entry. Entries should not exceed 1000 words in total and should relate to work undertaken between January 2016 - June 2017.

Each entry must include information under the following headings:

• Total budget

• Objectives

• Strategy & target audience

• Creativity & implementation

• Results & evaluation

Any entries that do not include information under all of these headings will be marked down.

Best Agency Culture (Category 11)

The judges will be looking for a clear description of the agency culture and how this contributes to its growth. They will be expecting to hear how training and development is used to help support the agency team in securing new business and growing existing accounts. They will also consider the structure, presentation and clarity of each entry. Entries should not exceed 1000 words in total and should relate to activity between January 2016 – June 2017.

Each entry must include information under the following headings:

• Overview of the agency and its structure

• Overview of agency culture

• Initiatives

• Why you think your entry should win

Any entries that do not include information under all of these headings will be marked down.

AGENCY / TEAM / RISING AGENCY STAR AWARDS (Categories 12 – 25)

Judges will be looking for teams, agencies and individuals that can demonstrate an on-going and sustained commitment to delivering best practice and results while showing a creative and innovative approach to winning new business. Judges will also consider the structure, presentation and clarity of each entry. Entries should not exceed 1000 words in total and should focus on work completed or activities between January 2016 – June 2017.

Each entry must include information under the following headings:

• Details of the Agency/Team/Individual

• Agency/Team/Individual objectives

• Recent campaign or new business pitch or win example

• Recent achievements

• Challenges faced

• Why you think your entry should win

Entries for the Rising New Business Star category must include the nominees date of birth and their age must be 25 or under on the date of the awards ceremony of 13 September 2017.

Agency Growth Awards (Categories 26-27)

Judges will be looking for an agency that can demonstrate an outstanding level of growth / new business wins. Judges will also consider the structure, presentation and clarity of each entry. Entries should not exceed 1000 words in total and should focus on new business pitches or growth activities between January 2016 – June 2017.

Each entry must include information under the following headings:

• Overview of the Agency (size, services, locations and a brief agency history)

• Outline of growth objectives and strategy

• Investment made in growth and associated KPIs

• Detail of initiatives to drive growth

• What growth was achieved?

• Challenges faced

• Why you think your entry should win

For the Agency Growth Award, a Small Agency is defined as having a turnover of £2million or less and a Large Agency with having a turnover over £2million.

Supporting Material

A company or campaign logo (in JPEG format, max 2MB) must be uploaded along with each entry (this may be used on the website, event brochure and presentations should you be shortlisted).

If appropriate you may upload up to 3 pieces of supporting materials along with your entry. These can be in JPEG, PDF or Microsoft Word format, and must be under 2MB and could include items such as:

• Audited accounts

• Team CV's

• Training and development records

• Copies of media coverage

• Media evaluation

• Client references

• RAJAR / ABC circulation figures

• Website analytics

• Testimonials

• DVDs / CDs

• Publications

• Marketing materials

• Photography

• Weblinks

• Market research findings

CONFIDENTIALITY

All materials will remain confidential to the judges. Winning case studies may be used in post-event materials to promote best practice and permission will be sought from entrants before publishing these.